Opponents
to the proposal for developing a lignite mine east of Ballymoney are opposed
to the loss of agricultural land and the houses located on the land. Townlands
like Ballaghmore, Springfield, Culramoney, Leitrim, Killyrammer, Ganaby,
Kockanavery and Topp (pictured here) will disappear entirely.

Local
politician Robert Coulter has dubbed the scheme 'environmental suicide'.
He continued

"What
is being proposed will cause massive disruption to people and destroy
the environment for miles around. Not only will this huge development
be a blot on the landscape but its effects will ripple throughout the
surrounding area with the blight of pylons all the way to Kells [a village
about 30 kilometres to the south-east] and air pollution for miles"

There
are fears that the pollution will affect more than just the local area.
One opponent, a doctor from Bushmills  a nearby village, has even
claimed that Ayrshire in Scotland, could be affected by pollution and
pointed to the 'black triangle' in parts of Germany and the Czech Republic.
In those areas sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides from lignite-fueled
power stations have damaged the environment, being linked to the destruction
of vegetation and to genetic mutation in livestock. This is in addition
to the dust and water pollution that would be experienced locally.

The
World Wildlife Fund question whether there is a need for a lignite mine
and power station at all. They point to the substantial capacity for renewable
energy across Northern Ireland, which is sustainable, unlike the lignite.
WWF's local representative in Northern Ireland, Malachy Campbell, points
out that carbon dioxide is thought to be the main reason for climate change
on the planet. Since lignite is one of the worst fuels for climate change,
as it releases more carbon dioxide than burning coal, oil or gas, Malachy
argues that we should be aiming to generate more of our electricity from
wind and solar power.

A
poster produced by an action group opposing lignite highlights their concerns:

"LIGNITE
OPEN CAST MINE

The
mine will cover an area of 5500 acres. This is the equivalent of over
4000 Football pitches.

Mining
could last for 30 years or more affecting not just our own generation
but those that follow us.

The
impact will be felt on the whole of the Ballymoney and North Antrim
area.

There
may be long term health effects especially for the young and the elderly.

The
mine will work 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

The
lignite seam has a maximum thickness of 77 metres and the layer of material
on top has a maximum depth of 70 metres. Thus the mine could be at least
500 feet deep.

The
chimney of the power station will be over 500 feet in height.

Water
tables in the area will be affected.

Approximately
80 farms [and 167 houses] will disappear. Churches and schools will
be affected

Communities
and family connections built up over generations will be broken up and
never replaced.

Pylons
and overhead power lines will disfigure the countryside.

The
power generation plant will devour 6 million tonnes of materials a year.
A lorry load is approximately 30 tonnes.

Property
values in Ballymoney and the surrounding area may be affected."